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If you've ever wondered why you crave fatty foods, researchers think they may have unlocked that mystery.

Our tongues apparently are to blame for liking fatty foods because of a gene found to make some people more sensitive to the taste, according to researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

A variant of the CD36 gene, the study found, makes some people more sensitive than others to the taste of fat and may partly explain why some become obese. Those who were less sensitive to tasting fat in foods may want to eat more, which could potentially cause them to gain weight.Additionally, the more fat that people eat in their diet, the less sensitive they are to detecting it in food.

Based on the study, a diet high in fat affects this same sensitivity and can make people produce less of the CD36 protein that would help them detect fat in food. It is possible, however, that the amount of that protein can be modified in a positive way by eating a healthier diet.

This bit of news is encouraging because it's never too late to start living a healthier life. Now's the time to take action. Give WeightLossNYC a call today at 718-491-5525.

Gallup’s annual Health and Healthcare survey shows that 52% of all U.S. adults who say they have succeeded at losing weight at some point in their lives said it was due to dietary changes more so than exercise.

How did they do it? Respondents who did lose weight said they altered their diet in the following ways:

The general nature of Americans’ responses -- eating less and working out -- shows that most people find weight-loss success by maintaining good overall health habits, not by relying on quick fixes -- 1% said they had gastric bypass and 4% said they used diet pills/drugs.

Other facts from the study showed that Americans in general still need to improve their diet and get more exercise to combat the high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

The good news: Even modest weight loss (5% or 10% of total body weight) can improve a person's blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Children today are snacking more than ever, and they're snacking all day long on junk food, says a new study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Childhood obesity is on the rise, and it's no surprise, considering that 27 percent of children's daily diets now consist of such junk food snacks as chips and candy.

Below are a few facts from the study:

Children--even some at a very young age--snack as frequently as three times a day.

Children eat three meals a day, but also snack on a lot of empty-calorie foods during the day.

Between 1977 and 2006, children's caloric intake from snacks increased by an average of 168 calories per day (up to 586 calories total).

They are more likely to drink fruit juice and other sugar-sweetened drinks than milk and are less likely to eat a fresh fruit or vegetable at snack time.

Eating habits start at a young age, which makes it important to establish healthy eating habits, including eating fresh, healthy foods at snack time instead of junk, early on. Parents also need to set a healthy example for children to model after to prevent childhood obesity and encourage a healthy lifestyle for the entire family.Schedule your first appointment at WeightLossNYC today!

About WeightLossNYC™

Lose weight fast, up to 20 pounds per month under physician supervision. Oksana Aron, MD is an internist and bariatric physician in New York City, and is founder of WeightLossNYC, New York Medical Weight Loss Center.